Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry - OPTIONAL

Lowry, Lois The Willoughbys, 112 pgs. Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books

Content ~ G

EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

In her newest novel, Lois Lowry pays tribute to famous children’s books of the past. The Willoughbys are a VERY dysfunctional family. Within the first few chapters the parents and children are both scheming to get rid of the other. But what would a great story be if the parents were around to help . . .err, I mean intervene? Left in the care of an ‘odious’ nanny and told to hide whenever the realtor arrives with potential buyers, mayhem ensues. Living not far away from this quirky bunch is a miserly old man who used to be a famous chocolatier who invented marvelous candy (sound familiar?)

These two storylines converge in a humorous and unique way. If the reader is unfamiliar with the famous novels spoofed in this book, Lowry has included a brief synopsis of each story at the back of the book. This book isn’t for everyone, but if you can find the right audience it will go.

Allison Madsen~Youth Services Librarian-SJO Public Librarian

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